It didn't look good with 24 seconds remaining in the third period when Zach Parise scored off of a deflection in front of Roberto Luongo and forced overtime. It reminded me way too much of the World Jr. tournament two months earlier when Canada were down two goals in the last two minutes of the gold medal final against the Americans, only to have Jordan Eberle tie it up in dramatic fashion, then to be defeated in overtime. Heart-wrenching.
But this time we were not to be denied. At 7:40 of overtime, Sydney Crosby potted the biggest goal in Canadian Olympic history and in the process, cemented Canada as the most gold medal-winning nation in Olympic history...ever!. The "host with the most," in fact. We didn't get the best overall medal count (however we did best our own record of 24 total medals; seven gold, 10 silver and seven bronze from Turin, Italy in 2006-yeah, don't ask where the men's hockey team finished that year) but that matters not, as we not only bested the Americans, who had done quite a lot of talking for a nation with only five hockey titles in their history (including said Jr. tournament wins-which includes beating the Canadians in 2004 as well) but we took our game back. Let it not be said that we don't own this game. I defy any hockey-playing nation to argue with that! With our success, our history, that's what Wayne Gretzky was talking about back in 2002 in Salt Lake City; everyone loves to hate Canada when it comes to hockey. Well, they can keep on hating us because we ain't done yet! Not by a long shot!
Some were saying that after the first game against the Americans and after perennial champion and normally cool-as-a-cucumber, Martin Brodeur was pulled in favor of eventual hero, Roberto Luongo (and after a near-embarrassing endeavor against Switzerland) that the demons of Turin, Italy were back for more. But after defeating Germany and destroying Russia 8-2 (a victory that took Canada 50 years to do in the Olympics) the Canadian squad was obviously a re-grouped, re-focused and determined team destined to be Olympic champions.
But this time we were not to be denied. At 7:40 of overtime, Sydney Crosby potted the biggest goal in Canadian Olympic history and in the process, cemented Canada as the most gold medal-winning nation in Olympic history...ever!. The "host with the most," in fact. We didn't get the best overall medal count (however we did best our own record of 24 total medals; seven gold, 10 silver and seven bronze from Turin, Italy in 2006-yeah, don't ask where the men's hockey team finished that year) but that matters not, as we not only bested the Americans, who had done quite a lot of talking for a nation with only five hockey titles in their history (including said Jr. tournament wins-which includes beating the Canadians in 2004 as well) but we took our game back. Let it not be said that we don't own this game. I defy any hockey-playing nation to argue with that! With our success, our history, that's what Wayne Gretzky was talking about back in 2002 in Salt Lake City; everyone loves to hate Canada when it comes to hockey. Well, they can keep on hating us because we ain't done yet! Not by a long shot!Some were saying that after the first game against the Americans and after perennial champion and normally cool-as-a-cucumber, Martin Brodeur was pulled in favor of eventual hero, Roberto Luongo (and after a near-embarrassing endeavor against Switzerland) that the demons of Turin, Italy were back for more. But after defeating Germany and destroying Russia 8-2 (a victory that took Canada 50 years to do in the Olympics) the Canadian squad was obviously a re-grouped, re-focused and determined team destined to be Olympic champions.
As for the Americans, no one even gave them a chance to be in the medal round, much less the gold medal final. When talks of who would win the gold were being discussed, Canada, Russia and Sweden were shoe-ins. For all intents and purposes, the U.S. and Russia traded places and Sweden (along with a disappointing Finnish club) seemed to fade out of existence. AS for the aforementioned Swiss club, watch out for them in 10-15 years. They're going to ruin somebody's party one day a la Belarus/Sweden of 2002.
But with this solidifying victory and the solace that is ours knowing we own hockey once more (along with owning the gold podium in this Olympiad) all is well in the sporting universe once again.
But with this solidifying victory and the solace that is ours knowing we own hockey once more (along with owning the gold podium in this Olympiad) all is well in the sporting universe once again.
With all the other medals won, (including the women's gold medal win, let us not forget them) the pride and patriotism shown (that has always been there, but being so low-key, Canadians simply don't show it until we have a venue or platform to do so)man, was I proud to be a Canadian today.
